Lavaca County, TX — Connor Ratcliff pleaded guilty this week to two counts of manslaughter in connection with an October 2022 crash that killed Lorin Miller and Kolson Jacobs.
According to the Lavaca County Attorney’s Office, a jury panel had been summoned for Ratcliff’s trial, but he entered the guilty pleas before jury selection began.
Ratcliff also pleaded guilty to an allegation that he used his motor vehicle as a deadly weapon.
Sentencing will take place at a later date before Judge William D. Old III.
The fatal crash occurred Oct. 15, 2022.
Prosecutors said evidence prepared for trial showed Ratcliff’s vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of the highway and collided nearly head-on with a truck driven by Jacobs. Miller was a passenger in Jacobs’ vehicle.
The point of impact was on the shoulder of Jacobs’ side of the roadway at highway speeds, according to the case update.
Investigators said Ratcliff provided several explanations for how the crash occurred, but those accounts were not supported by the physical evidence.
One explanation was that the drivers had been “playing chicken.” Investigators said there was no evidence Jacobs left his lane until he swerved onto the shoulder in an effort to avoid the collision.
Authorities also said there was no evidence that intoxication played a role.
Ratcliff now awaits sentencing on the two manslaughter convictions and deadly weapon finding.